Canon PowerShot
SX30 IS
 vs
Nikon
D5100

Updated (October, 2012): Compare the Canon Powershot SX40 vs Nikon D5200 Hands-on P

Nikon D5100

100

  
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

53

  
Winner

Nikon D5100

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13 EV
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
 

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Lens
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon SX30 IS
Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS Learn more about
the Canon SX30 IS

Advantages of the Nikon D5100
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.6mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
 Around 13x larger sensor
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 16.1 MP vs 9.8 MP
Help
 Capture more than 60% more detail in your photos
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
 Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Size Smaller 127x96x78 mm vs 123x92x108 mm
Help
 More than 20% smaller
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
 Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The D5100's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Thickness Thinner 3.1" vs 4.3"
Help
 Around 30% thinner
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 4 fps vs 1.1 fps
Help
 More than 3.5x faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Viewfinder Has an optical viewfinder Pentamirror vs Digital
Help
 Optical viewfinders save battery life and are more detailed
Weight Slightly lighter 560 g vs 601 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Longest exposure Longer exposures 30s vs 15s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Fastest shutter speed Slightly faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/3200s
Help
 20% faster max shutter speed
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS Canon PowerShot SX30 IS
53 vs 100
Explain scores
Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5100. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a super zoom with a entry-level DSLR.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
SX30 IS:Digital
D5100:Pentamirror
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
SX30 IS:1/3200s
D5100:1/4000s
Weight Heavy Help
SX30 IS:601 g
D5100:560 g
Thickness Quite thick Help
SX30 IS:4.3"
D5100:3.1"
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Size Large Help
SX30 IS:123x92x108 mm
D5100:127x96x78 mm

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the PowerShot SX30 IS
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5100
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Dynamic range Has significantly narrower dynamic range
Compare the D3100 vs the PowerShot SX30 IS
Compare the D3100 vs the D5100
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$550 body only

$609 with 18-55mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Thickness Is thinner
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the PowerShot SX30 IS
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D5100
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$332 body only

$429 - $499 with 18-55mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the PowerShot SX30 IS
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D5100
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

Super zoom

$429 - $450
Zoom Has way more more zoom
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the PowerShot SX50 HS vs the PowerShot SX30 IS
Compare the PowerShot SX50 HS vs the D5100

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$299 - $320
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Compare the Powershot SX40 vs the PowerShot SX30 IS
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

Super zoom

$248 - $249
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Size Significantly smaller
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the PowerShot SX500 IS vs the PowerShot SX30 IS
Nikon Coolpix P500

Nikon Coolpix P500

Super zoom

$596
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Image stabilization Worse image stabilization
Compare the Coolpix P500 vs the PowerShot SX30 IS
Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR

Super zoom
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Zoom Less zoom
Size Larger
Compare the FinePix HS20 EXR vs the PowerShot SX30 IS
Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$335 - $347
Zoom More zoom
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Aperture Narrower aperture
Macro focus Worse macro capability
Compare the Coolpix P510 vs the PowerShot SX30 IS

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Size Slightly smaller
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the D3200 vs the D5100
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the D90 vs the D5100
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the D7000 vs the D5100
Canon EOS 650D

Canon EOS 650D

Entry-level DSLR

$580 - $797 body only

$639 - $1,144 with 18-55mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the EOS 650D vs the D5100
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D5100

appearance

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS Nikon D5100
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS Nikon D5100
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS Nikon D5100

discussion

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